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    Elilta Restaurant

    4.9 (107 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 9:00 pm

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    Recommended Reviews - Elilta Restaurant

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    Andrew P.

    Been a while since I had Ethiopian food! I just found out one of my buddies only had it once, but he had never had it in MD. So I gave myself a mission. I Yelped this spot and had to try. They've got the decor and the music down. And sambusas are on display at the counter, which is dangerous. We looked through the menu and I knew I wanted to try their veggie combo -- typically that's my go-to. And the sambusa was irresistible since it was on display, grrr. That came first, and it was nice and flaky, but I would've loved a sauce with it! Traditionally, I'm not sure if they usually come with sauces like samosas do, but I definitely would've liked one. And then the main course came out. Such a beautiful display of lentils, beets, cabbage, and more. Every Ethiopian spot doesn't have beets, so I was excited to see them here. And they were good -- everything was good! And they nailed the amount of injera... at least for me. I didn't have to ask for more or anything! They also have a fridge with soft drinks, beer, and honey wine. The latter is difficult to spot... you see a bottle, but the labeling is in Amharic, so you wouldn't know what it is unless you know what honey wine looks like, which I do :). They don't sell it by the glass, but the bottle was $20 and my friend and I shared. I've never had it sparkling, but it was delicious. I prefer non-carbonated beverages though. The only issue I ran into was the parking. That area does not make it easy, and the parking lot signs are very strict about which businesses you are supposed to visit in designated spots. I don't know how strict they are, but I know I wouldn't want to take the chance. This isn't the restaurant's fault, but it is helpful to mention. All that to say, I'll be back to this restaurant soon. It was FANTASTIC!

    Veggie combo, lega tibs, and awaze tibs
    Rachel B.

    Amazing! The food here is really good but they were out of lamb which was unfortunate and the menu descriptions aren't correct; our server was very helpful in describing what each item actually entailed. Two friends and I got three things to share family style, which was nice. The interior is cute but there's no music so when no one is speaking it's a weird silence. Overall would definitely reco

    Beef tibs and veggie sides
    Yael M.

    Food is delicious and the restaurant is so clean and cozy. The owners treat you like you're in their home.

    Derek Tibs with Vegetable Platter
    Carl R.

    Amazing Eritrean host, waitress and chef serves up delicious, fragrant Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine in an unassuming environment with Ethiopian music and decor. We enjoyed the Derek tibs (crispy beef sautéed in onions, tomatoes and jalapeño peppers with the vegetable platter (pictured). They also serve Ethiopian sandwiches and pasta. I had to write this review to include the menu for take out. Definitely returning.

    Fish goulash & 6 veggie combo
    Monica T.

    My husband said "this is my new favorite Ethiopian restaurant." For me, it was a 6/5 The owner gave us such great service and you could taste the love in her food. We ordered the fish goulash & the 6 vegetarian combo. The fish was crispy & tender & a perfect bite with enjera & beets. The lentils were my favorite, so much flavor in the sauce. The food came out steaming & was so beautiful. Also she makes the best coffee. Restaurant is small & there is limited parking -- best for 2-4 people.

    4 veggie option with Beef entree. Absolutely amazing. First time here and would recommend it over and over again
    Lori W.

    Food was absolutely delicious! Service was excellent. Such a down to earth feel and such a wonderful experience!! Anytime we are back in this area we will return. Highly recommend!!! Awaze tibs was phenomenal.

    Traditional coffee  service.  Puts out coffee bars to shame

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    3 years ago

    Fantastic restaurant. Wider selection than most Ethiopian places. Food was amazing. Prompt, kind service.

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    2 years ago

    Wow! Really, really good food. Four of us split a veggie combo and two meats. Amazing food and service. Definitely will be back

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    Great service and great food, food was super flavorful and people were so kind and nice, Highly recommend!!! Everything was phenomenal!!!

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    2 years ago

    Amazing! Service, food, ambiance. All amazing! Best Ethiopian food I have ever had hands down. We are already planning our return!

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    2 years ago

    So far my best Ethiopian meal in silver spring. Nice decor friendly service. Food cooker and seasoned great.

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    3 years ago

    Food was the absolute best and so was the service!! Would recommend the Key wat beef and the veggie platter. Will definitely be back!

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    2 years ago

    maybe the best lamb and shiro I have ever had. if you like Ethiopian food you need to stop by!

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    Page 2 of 3

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    Beteseb Restaurant

    Beteseb Restaurant

    4.3
    (293 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    As a proud Ethiopian, I was really excited to try this restaurant because I always love supporting…read moreEthiopian businesses. Unfortunately, I left disappointed. The food felt very Americanized, and the flavors were much milder than what I'm used to growing up with. The Awaze Tibs, in particular, lacked the bold, rich, spicy depth that makes the dish so special. It tasted like the seasoning had been toned down, and I found myself wishing for the authentic flavors I know and love. I understand that restaurants sometimes adjust recipes to appeal to a wider audience, but I hope they'll also consider staying true to the vibrant, unforgettable flavors that make Ethiopian cuisine so unique. I truly wanted to love it, but for me, it just didn't taste like home.

    This is a great spot. It was a bit hard to find since signage isn't super clear, but it's pretty…read moretiny and located on the corner. I ordered the vegetarian platter and felt it was a good deal and amount of food. I ordered a boiled egg as well as a side of ayib. The ayib was great and the egg was delivered about halfway through my meal which was odd--I actually forgot I ordered it. If it can't be delivered with the meal, it probably shouldn't be offered. At the point I received it I was near done eating. The food tasted good and had a good price point. They also offers Ethiopian beer which was great. This was a good spot, definitely a hole in the wall so I do suggest making a reservation.

    Photos
    Beteseb Restaurant
    Veggie Combo + Lamb Tibbs Entree (all on one plate)
    Veggie Combo + Lamb Tibbs Entree (all on one plate)
    Stamp of Approvals!

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    Stamp of Approvals!
    Bete Ethiopian Cuisine & Cafe

    Bete Ethiopian Cuisine & Cafe

    4.2
    (210 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    Great vegetarian combo--good value. I came in on a Saturday night before a concert around 7 PM. I…read morewas seated right away. They sell beer and wine and the seating is cozy, decor is eclectic. I got my food within about 15 minutes of ordering and the portions were huge. The lentils were my absolute favorite. Everything was decent, but the red lentils were standout. Injira was delicious. It was easy to check out and the bathrooms were clean. It's just off the main drag in silver spring with numerous garages nearby. All in all, a great option!

    Shout out to my Ethiopian brothers and sisters for this phenomenal establishment! Looking for…read moreauthentic Ethiopian food? This is the spot. I was greeted by warm and welcoming customer service. I stopped in as soon as the restaurant opened and was able to choose my own table. I ordered veggie sambusas as my appetizer, traditional Ethiopian tea for my drink, and lamb tibs for my main course. The drink was warming and earthy! These herbs helped digest your food and calm the senses. Ethiopian cuisine is like medicine to the body and soul! The sambusas were so delicious and warming!!! The sauce that came with it was very warming and flavorful! I felt both fulfilled and like my senses were singing! The lamb tibs were simply divine! Juicy, tender, and flavorful! Paired with the injera bread and the vegetables! Do not get me started! During the time I was here, many people were coming in and out of this place. Best believe I will be back! It is a nice treat and well worth it! Cheers!

    Photos
    Ethiopian beers.
    Ethiopian beers.
    Beef sambusa.
    Beef sambusa.
    Injera.

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    Injera.
    Seb-Seb Restaurant and Bar

    Seb-Seb Restaurant and Bar

    4.4
    (41 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    Came to meet up with a friend for dinner and we thoroughly enjoyed our meal!…read more The inside dining area is swanky, but also connected to a pretty bare-bones liquor store which creates a mismatch labyrinth to find the bathroom, snaking past storage crates, etc. It's a little odd, but if you're not particular, it's not big deal. There's a lovely covered outside area to eat, which is what we opted for. For some reason, the plastic clover "growing" on the outside wall really amused me. The food - awesome. I think we made the right choice to get one Vegetarian Sampler and one order of lamb tibs to split. Everything on the vegetarian platter was delicious. My favorite was the lentils with berebere spices. They even had a small salad which was good, but surprising that it was spicy! The lamb tibs were flavorful and came with slices of spicy peppers that were a delight. Not for those sensitive to spicy food! They have plenty of drinks inside, but it's hard to go wrong with a nice glass of Tej (Ethiopian honey wine), which they didn't skimp on when pouring! My only complaint would be that we ran out of injera bread (this is probably the first Ehtiopian place I've been to where they served our food directly on a plate without a large piece of injera underneath) and the waitstaff is pretty hands-off so it took a while to get someone to bring out some more. But if that's my only complaint, it's not a bad experience overall!

    Seb-Seb is a small Ethiopian spot in Silver Spring that's honestly easy to miss, but I'm glad we…read morestopped in because the food was really enjoyable. I started with the beef sambusa appetizer, and those were the stars of the night for me. The crust was perfectly flakey and the lentil filling had just the right amount of spice so I could enjoy every bite without feeling overwhelmed. For our main dish, my wife, daughter, and I ordered the veggie deluxe platter. It came with lentils, yellow peas, beets, and a variety of other vegetables and beans. Everything was served with injera that was soft, fresh, and really delicious. I liked that none of the portions were too spicy, which let me appreciate all the flavors. The staff was friendly and helpful throughout our visit. Overall, we had a great experience and I would be happy to come back again.

    Photos
    Seb-Seb Restaurant and Bar
    Tibs FirFir, Lega Tibs
    Tibs FirFir, Lega Tibs
    Seb-Seb Restaurant and Bar

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    Effoi Restaurant

    Effoi Restaurant

    4.6
    (57 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    We may have found a new go-to Ethiopian spot! As we usually do when trying a new place, we ordered…read moreDoro Wot and a veggie combo. It was easily 4 people's worth of food, but more importantly, delicious. The veggie combo had the best shiro and collards I've had in awhile as well as delicious beets, two varieties of lentil (misir wot and another name unknown), cabbage & carrot gomen, fried potatoes, salad and yellow split peas. I am usually not as keen on yellow split peas but we thought these were better than average. The doro wot was excellent and for the first time ever, came with two drumsticks. I seriously have never gotten more than one drumstick anywhere else. It was easily twice the size of other doro wot portions. It had a decent amount of heat but probably not as much as our other favorite places. It was by no means bland though, it was excellent, just not as spicy as others (still very spicy by Marylander standards, be warned). The veggies though are mostly milder while also being well seasoned. You get a choice of injera; local injera is a blend that is not gluten free and is included in the price. You can get the 100% teff for an upcharge of 3.50. We aren't celiac so went with the local and it was still good for our tastes. We stuffed ourselves and still had probably 2/3 of the food left so will be enjoying it for a couple more days. The meal came in under $50 and seemed a bargain comparatively when balancing quality and quantity. We will definitely return! Oh, I should add: Service is very friendly, but this is not a super fast place so plan accordingly. It is very clean and attractive, bathrooms clean too. They have a couple small metal tables out front if you want to enjoy the weather, but it might be a little loud as it's right on the street.

    The reason I picked this spot from all the amazing Ethiopian options in Silver Spring is that they…read morehad some holiday specials available for Ethiopian and Eritrean dishes that I have never had. This made it perfect for getting an Ethiopian fix of legit Ethiopian food in the area while being in town but also still stick with my plan to only try new dishes I have never had during visits in cities with lots of international options. I tried a "lifer" dish special they had until Christmas: Hilbet. My Realization on the connection to the word Hilbeh from Yemeni/ Yemenite food somehow didn't hit me fully until later on even though I immediately thought of Yemeni/ Yemenite Hilbeh when I tasted the fenugreek in the Hilbet! I am familiar with Hilbeh form Israel where it was brought to by Jews who came to Israel from Yemen like my aunt and of course Hilbet is related! The Ethiopian and Eritrean hilbet, just like the yemenite one is a naturally vegan dish. Unlike the yemenite Hilbeh that is only made with ground fenugreek seeds, the Ethiopian and Eritrean Hilbet has fava beans, fenugreek, and lentils, all ground into a powder, cooked, and whipped to a cream like texture. It was definitely whipped and maybe a little sticky. It would take a little getting used to for me but definitely super interesting and super fun to try. It came with shiro next to it that I was very happy with (one of my favorite Ethiopian stews!). The hilbet was topped with a salty (a tad too salty for me maybe) tomato based sauce. There were pieces of fresh jalapeno on the hilbet which I really liked with it. I really liked the presentation of the dish. The injera was good which is the most important part for me in Ethiopian and Eritrean meals and the food was well spiced-- both, and the injera in particular, have been a source of disappointment when eating Ethiopian food in the limited amount of Ethiopian restaurants in Tucson while living here. There was a woman in the restaurant roasting coffee beans and doing the coffee ceremony which added to a nice ambience. With providing some less common Ethiopian and Eritrean dishes, especially around the holidays I think this restaurant is a real gem and definitely a good one to prioritize trying some special less commonly found dishes at! This is what earned a 5 stars from me which I now tend to reserve for very few favorite outstanding places. My general rating system: 1 star: I would stay away 2 stars: Has some good things about it but I generally don't recommend. 3 stars: Pretty good. I wouldn't go out of my way to go back but a decent place 4 stars: Great place. I would go back. 5 stars: I highly recommend stopping whatever you are doing and making plans to try it out! An Evie favorite!

    Photos
    Effoi Restaurant
    Chicken and veggie
    Chicken and veggie
    Two pieces of chicken one supposed to be a leg and other a wing 18.00

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    Two pieces of chicken one supposed to be a leg and other a wing 18.00

    Elilta Restaurant - eritrean - Updated August 2026

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